For the first time, we can produce pulses of photons that are regular and reliable enough to be used as a clock in quantum computing, for example, from something we can make almost as easily as any other semiconductor. |
The indium arsenide self-organizes into the dots, like raindrops on a car bonnet. We found that the key was producing the dots with a high degree of symmetry, and the physics of the materials does that for us. |
There's no reason, in theory, why we can't replicate this effect at room temperature, and we've already seen emission at 1,300 nanometers where telecommunications lasers work. There are challenges still to be overcome, and I'd expect to see this in production in three to four years. |
You have to pick things that people will like around Christmas. |
You learn about economics and mass produce little things to make a profit. |